A British Parliamentary Inquiry Committee, charged by the British Parliament to investigate the violations of the siege imposed on Qatar, has called for an immediate lifting of the siege, as being illegal and violating all international and humanitarian conventions and laws.
In a press conference yesterday at the headquarters of the National Human Rights Committee (NHRC) in Doha, the committee head MP J Morse said that all the cases that were affected by the siege were real and consistent with evidence.
He said that he met with a number of the NHRC officials, including its chairman Dr
Ali bin Smaikh al-Marri as well as of the victims of the siege, and received from them documented violations.
“These violations are painful, especially with regard to reunification, health, education, private property, labour, investment, mobility and the exercise of religious rites,” Morse said.
He stressed that such repercussions of the siege of Qatar are violations that involve tragedies and violate all international human rights laws, and that they should be ended by lifting the blockade as soon as possible to avoid its many effects on the entire region.
MP Morse added that the siege imposed on Qatar is unilateral and violates the basic human rights that should be respected rather than violated.
He pointed out that there are international obligations on the countries to abide by them, stressing that it is in everyone's interest that the current Gulf crisis be resolved urgently.
The head of the British Parliamentary Inquiry Committee, currently visiting Doha, said that the committee invited the NHRC chairman to visit the British Parliament to explain the violations caused by the siege and to inform the MPs about all the evidence confirming this.
He said that the members of the committee will present the results of their visit to Qatar to the British Parliament, and have contacts and meetings with members of the parliament and others from outside on this regard, as well as address the European Union and send a message to the British Government and the Foreign Office.
“The committee met with officials of the British embassy in Qatar, who said that it supports efforts to lift the siege on Qatar, which is the position of the British government itself which supports the mediation efforts of the Emir of Kuwait Sheikh Sabah al-Ahmad al-Jaber al-Sabah to end the crisis.
"The issue of Qatar is just in that it is an illegal blockade that violates international laws and human rights. The violations are documented. The region is an extended family. The blockade has greatly affected the rights of people and the ties between families. We will do our utmost to lift it."
He said the committee would prepare a report on its visit to Qatar and its meetings with the victims of the siege. The report will be published in about a month, he added.
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